As you shop for WooCommerce alternatives, you’ll find that there are many differences between them. By paying close attention to these factors, you can sort through your options and home in on the right one for your particular budget and needs.
Product diversity: If you offer more than physical products, make sure the software you choose allows you to sell them. These might include services, subscriptions, memberships and digital downloads.
Product management: The ideal alternative will make it easy for you to manage your products. You should be able to add product descriptions and upload product photos in one place.
Search engine optimization (SEO): SEO features are essential if you’d like to optimize your website and help your customers find you organically.
Themes: The more free and paid themes at your disposal, the better. This can ensure you’ll be able to find the ideal option for your particular brand image and business model.
Payment processing: WooCommerce accepts all major credit cards plus countless payment processing solutions, such as Stripe, PayPal and Square. The software you choose should do the same as customers appreciate payment flexibility.
Marketing: Even if you’ve been in business for years and have a loyal customer base, marketing features, such as the ability to create coupons and loyalty programs, email newsletters and social media integrations can help you attract new customers and grow.
Analytics and reporting: With robust analytics and reporting capabilities, you can gain visibility into what’s working and what you need to do to improve the website.
WooCommerce is fairly intuitive but if you don’t have much WordPress experience, it might come with a learning curve. Also, its advanced features require third-party integrations and extensions, which can be a challenge to manage. If possible, opt for an alternative that you can easily navigate and use, even if you don’t have a lot of technical skills. It’s also a good idea to look for solutions that has these advanced features built into them so you don’t have to worry about software updates.
If you’re selling products and services online, security should be top of mind as your customers will continually share their sensitive personal information. With the right security features, you can protect your site from malware, hackers and other cybersecurity threats. Several examples of these crucial security features to prioritize include an SSL certificate, firewalls, multistep authentication and strong password requirements.
To provide your customers with a quality shopping experience online, your site should offer a variety of customer service features. WooCommerce can allow you to do so through its 25-plus customer support extensions. When you search for an alternative, make sure you can implement live chat, an automated help desk, phone support, email support, a self-serve knowledge base and anything else you believe can help address their questions and concerns.